Sprayer

Abstract

According to the present application there is provided a sprayer comprising a housing having a fluid inlet configured for being statically coupled to a fluid source to receive fluid therefrom. The housing further comprises a fluid outlet configured for the discharging the fluid, the distance between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet being fixed; The sprayer has a bridge mounted over the housing and comprising a dispersion element configured for dispersing fluid discharged from the fluid outlet of the housing; The bridge is configured for displacement over the housing at least between a closed position in which the dispersion element comes into contact with the fluid outlet to thereby seal it, and an open position in which the dispersion element is spaced from the fluid outlet by a gap, allowing dispersion of the fluid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sprayer comprising:
 a housing having a fluid inlet statically coupled to a fluid source to receive fluid therefrom under pressure and a fluid outlet discharging said fluid, the distance between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet being fixed; 
 a bridge mounted over the housing and comprising:
 a dispersion element dispersing fluid discharged from the fluid outlet of the housing; wherein the dispersion element is integrally formed with the bridge; 
 a mounting portion displaceably fitted over the housing at a location circumferentially outside of the housing; and 
 at least one arm extending upwardly from the mounting portion and mounting the dispersion element to the mounting portion, 
 
 the bridge displaceable over the housing at least between a closed position in which the dispersion element prevents access of foreign matter to the fluid outlet, and an open position in which the dispersion element is spaced from the fluid outlet by a gap, allowing dispersion of the fluid; 
 an open limiter configured for restricting displacement of the bridge over the housing beyond the open position by limiting a traveling distance between the dispersion element and the fluid outlet so as not to exceed an operational gap; and 
 a closed limiter, configured, in the closed position, for preventing displacement of the bridge over the housing beyond the closed position, 
 the open limiter and the closed limiter being constituted by an engagement between the housing and the mounting portion of the bridge, 
 the bridge and the housing together including a channel, having a first end and a second end, and a restricting member configured for being received within the channel and displaced therein, wherein the restricting member is at least one restricting projection; 
 wherein displacement at the open position is limited by engagement of the restricting member with the first end of the channel and displacement at the closed position is limited by engagement of the restricting member with the second end of the channel. 
 
     
     
       2. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein, in operation, the housing forms a unitary body in which the fluid outlet is stationary with respect to the fluid inlet. 
     
     
       3. A sprayer according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing is constituted by a single piece unit having one end constituting the fluid inlet and an opposite end constituting the fluid outlet. 
     
     
       4. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein the bridge is constantly urged into the closed position by a biasing force. 
     
     
       5. A sprayer according to  claim 4 , wherein displacement of the bridge from the closed position to the open position is facilitated by the pressure of the fluid emitted through the fluid outlet. 
     
     
       6. A sprayer according to  claim 4 , wherein the bridge is biased towards the closed position by virtue of gravitational forces. 
     
     
       7. A sprayer according to  claim 6 , wherein, in the open position, the bridge is elevated over the fluid outlet and is constantly urged downwards towards the fluid outlet. 
     
     
       8. A sprayer according to  claim 7 , wherein, in a given orientation of the housing, a vertical downwards gravitational vector provides the biasing force for biasing the bridge into the closed position. 
     
     
       9. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein displacement of the bridge over the housing is facilitated by guides formed in the housing and the bridge and configured to engage one another to determine a displacement path of the bridge. 
     
     
       10. A sprayer according to  claim 9 , wherein the guides are generally straight, whereby displacement of the bridge over the housing is performed linearly. 
     
     
       11. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein the open limiter prevents the bridge from disengaging from the housing due to displacement away from the fluid outlet. 
     
     
       12. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet itself serves as the closed limiter. 
     
     
       13. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm is formed with a dividing edge facing said fluid outlet. 
     
     
       14. A sprayer according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a sleeve portion having an open end delimited by a rim constituting the fluid outlet of the housing, and a nozzle having a nozzle outlet disposed at or below a level of the rim. 
     
     
       15. A sprayer according to  claim 14 , wherein, in the closed position of the sprayer, the rim of the sleeve portion is sealed by the dispersing element while the nozzle is located within the sleeve portion. 
     
     
       16. A sprayer according to  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve portion has a diameter greater than that of the nozzle, thereby yielding an annular basin extending about the nozzle. 
     
     
       17. A sprayer according to  claim 16 , wherein the basin has a bottom surface disposed below a level of the nozzle outlet, whereby dirt, mud and clogging material is accumulated within the basin, around the nozzle, without blocking the nozzle outlet. 
     
     
       18. A sprayer according to  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve portion is provided with at least one drainage opening configured for draining the dirt, mud and clogging material from the basin. 
     
     
       19. A sprayer according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one drainage opening is located below the level of the nozzle outlet.